'We need to adopt a ‘blue’ lifestyle, being mindful of how our actions on land impact the oceans'

Susan Steele, Executive Director of the European Fisheries Control Agency

My journey began in Allihies at the tip of the Beara Peninsula, and from the tender age of two, I was raised on a farm in Eyeries. Here, my parents, Norman and Veronica Steele, established Milleens Cheese in 1976.

From the moment I became aware of the sea, I was determined to become a marine biologist, a passion that has never waned. From the age of 11, I sought work experience at a nearby fish farm, where I found joy in cleaning tanks and feeding smolts. The earnings from this funded my week-long marine biology courses on Sherkin Island with Matt Murphy. 

Each summer was dedicated to gaining more experience, often involving an aquarium or study project.

After my Leaving Cert, I embarked on a three-year marine biology degree at Bangor University. I learned to dive in Anglesey and even became a Dive instructor, and have since dived every centimetre of the Beara coastline.

I now call Vigo, Spain, my home, where, since September, 2021, I have been serving as the Executive Director of the European Fisheries Control Agency. The agency is committed to upholding the highest common standards for control, inspection, and surveillance under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Prior to my current role, I was the Executive Chair and CEO of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority of Ireland.

While it’s important to acknowledge the strides we’ve made in improving the sustainability of EU fisheries, as highlighted in the 2024 Commission report, we must also recognise that there’s still much work to be done.

The impacts of climate change, pollution, and other factors on our oceans are significant and require our continued attention and action.

The state, along with the European Commission, is making commendable efforts towards achieving sustainability and preventing further fisheries declines. The introduction of a new control regulation this year, which mandates monitoring of all catches, including recreational fisheries, is a step in the right direction.

However, as individuals, we too have a role to play. 

We need to adopt a ‘blue’ lifestyle, being mindful of how our actions on land impact the oceans, ensuring we purchase fish from legal sources, and most importantly, taking the time to enjoy and appreciate the oceans.

Jacques Cousteau once said: “We only protect what we love, we only love what we understand, and we only understand what we are taught.” This rings true when it comes to our relationship with the sea. The ‘blue mind’, a state of calmness induced by the sea, is a testament to our deep connection with the oceans. While there is a general love for the sea and appreciation of the oceans in Cork, there is always room for more education and learning.

Sea swimming is a passion of mine. As a friend once put it, “You may not like the person going into the sea, but you always like the person coming out.” Another described sea swimming as a “reset button”.

These sentiments capture the essence of sea swimming for me - it’s a source of energy, joy, and a sense of accomplishment.

Sometimes I think that there are some of us with slightly saltier blood. For me, I am happiest on, by or talking about and working with the oceans. I have been extremely lucky to have been able to live a life working with the oceans and living by the sea as I work.

I swim most days in the sea and spend my leisure time at sea. The attraction is strong but hard to explain. Jacques Cousteau once said “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever”, and that captures it beautifully.